The Mahogany Empire of Ichabod T. Williams & Sons, 1838–1973

Mahogany lumber and veneer mills flourished in port cities along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States beginning in the nineteenth century.' Prominent among the dynastic families that typified the industry's ownership were the Williamsons of Baltimore and Cockeysville, Maryland; the Palmer-Parker families of Boston; the Thompsons of Philadelphia; the Freibergs of New Orleans; and the Williams family of New York. The Williams family was unique in this group becauseof the ultimate size of its enterprise and the participation of family members in the business through six generations. For the most part, the business history of the Williams family is representative of other family mahogany firms